Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News February 2019

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Vol. 6

No. 2

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

FEBRUARY 2019

Smiths Falls’ burgeoning food scene is “On The Rise”

Korean BBQ Salmon with rice and sesame spinach salad. One of the dishes served at The Axe & Arrow Gastropub. Photo credit: Facebook.

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca The small, feisty town of Smiths Falls (bisected by the Rideau and three locks) not only has experienced an influx of people with the mushrooming of Canopy Growth, but accompanying that, an eclectic choice of new eateries.

One of the newest is the Axe & Arrow Gastropub located where Coffee Culture used to be at 2 Russell St. E. Owner Brian Paquette also owns Café Whim, at 7 Russell St. and several other businesses in the area with two more still in the ‘thinking’ stage.

As soon as Coffee Cul-

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ture went out of business, Paquette snapped up the space. “It’s a beautiful building, fantastic spot, one of the best footprints in town.” If Paquette has his way (and he’s working at it), he’ll make the area into Russell Street Village.

And in the meantime, trying to appeal to as many eating audiences as he can, Paquette has kept the Gastropub and Café Whim very different in both ambience and food.

The Gastropub, with a darker interior, concentrates on the “intense, rich, eclectic flavours of a dish,” says Paquette. He adds: “It has a more upscale pubstyle fusion cuisine, like

pulled-duck sliders with Korean barbecue sauce and Asian slaw.” He also offers oysters, raw tuna and even elk, which, he says, sell out more quickly than anything else. As well, good salads and jambalayas are on the menu.

The Axe & Arrow not only appeals to the “tweetians” (Paquette’s own term) but also the “younger parent crowd, middle-age professionals, and the senior crowd as well.

“We serve the best selection of cocktails and wine in town,” Paquette says candidly, with accomplished flare bartenders (flipping and juggling bottles.) And every Friday the Gastropub hosts intimate, live, solo performers.

But if you’re just in the mood for a great sandwich with a quirky name, try his other eatery, Café Whim; ask for The Drunken Hippy, The Greek Goddess, or even The Trailer Park.

Café Whim also does a breakfast menu, with dinner starting after 4 p.m.

Paquette sees Smiths Falls undergoing a renaissance, a revitalization, a phoenix rising out of the ashes after Hershey’s departure. “Entrepreneurs are stepping up,” he says, “seeing the potential of the town,” like Ram Mogandas at Chuckles Jack, Amy Rensby at C’est Tout, and Trish Krotki at The Pickled Pig. “People see the opportunity and take it.”

• Axe & Arrow Gastropub is open Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11a.m. to midnight, and closed on Sunday. The number is 613-284-9899.

• Café Whim is open Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Sundays. The number is 613-283-3008.

Another recent addition is C’est Tout Bakery, 14 Beckwith St. S. It has a

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few years on the Axe and Arrow having put down roots in 2016 — “three years this March 21,” owner Amy Rensby says, grinning.

The small bakery is going gangbusters. Business was crazy last year, and even this January her bakery team has been super busy. Rensby says she also senses a shift in the demographics of the Town with lots more people out and about.

C’est Tout opens early, at

7 a.m., which people like, she says, and locals or visitors can pick up a coffee and a just-baked pastry before heading to work or hitting the road.

Like Paquette, C’est Tout isn’t Rensby’s only business; when late spring rolls around, Spise Bistro and Lounge (pronounced spee-sa, with emphasis on the ‘spee’), will open at 5 Main St. W. Recently it was known as Barb’s Diner, before that Tate’s Bakery, before that it was a

butcher shop and even before that Rensby has heard it was the “first iteration of the Baldachin Inn” now in Merrickville.

There will be food, of course — evening fare — seasonally oriented, locally sourced; it will open at 5 and close at 10 p.m. and Rensby says it will be a “small and intimate” space, seating only 25.

She sees it as a space for friends to meet after work for drinks and chat.

Continues on page 5

Protesters have their say about the angle verses parallel parking issue Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Shortly after Committee of the Whole started Monday night at 4 p.m., noise from outside began to filter up to council chambers.

Activists on the street were protesting the recent contentious decision by council to opt for parallel parking versus angle parking which has been one of Smiths Falls’ more visible characteristics over the past near-century.

Flanked by police cruisers, protestors waved signs and one hollered through a bullhorn urging passing drivers to honk for angle parking.

Jewel Brady was there in the cold, darkening evening.

“I like angle parking. There should have been a vote by the citizens. [Councillors] should listen to the public,” she said.

Kathy Abbass agreed. “I want angle parking kept.

It’s part of the heritage of Smiths Falls. [Councillors] haven’t listened — their minds are made up.”

Norma Ford is from Montague. She does all her shopping in Smiths Falls and spends lots of money here.

She also is handicapped. She calls this decision “a dirty

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trick of council.” She says if it had been brought up during election campaigning, people could have had their say when they voted.

As that didn’t happen, she calls council as “dishonest as they come.”

Late January, in a recorded vote, a motion to rescind the motion regarding an-

gle versus parallel parking made by the previous council in February 2018, was won 4 to 3. Those voting for were Councillors Alford, McKenna, Allen and Mayor Pankow. Those voting against were Councillors Brennan, McGuire and Dwyer.

Jewel Brady says councillors should listen to the public. She was protesting the vote on parallel versus angle parking outside Town Hall Monday night. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

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February 2019

2

Letter to the editor

Page Two

The carbon tax - End of the world?

There has been a great deal of discussion regarding whether the carbon tax is the end of the world or the saviour of the world. Not quite either really. This article is to try to summarize the benefits and costs of the tax in as neutral a way as possible.

First of all, it is a tax pure and simple. It is meant to make the cost of buying carbon producing products more expensive. The idea is that if something is more expensive then you will tend to purchase less of it. For the sake of this discussion, I am only going to talk about one source of carbon emissions - gasoline - but the same principals apply to other sources of carbon as well. There is no question that when looking at the entire country a carbon tax works. If you make carbon products more expensive, there will be less consumption.

The federal government has said that they will refund this additional cost back to individuals.

Great you say. I save the planet and there is no net cost to me. Also, if

gasoline costs more, you may decide to purchase a more fuel efficient (or electric) vehicle or walk or bike.

But, and there is a but, personally I can walk or bike to work if gasoline becomes expensive and I will get the same rebate as my neighbour who commutes to Ottawa daily. He will pay a lot more carbon tax than I will and we will get the same refund. He will be out of pocket and I might make a profit. Also, not everyone will be able to change to a smaller or electric vehicle that quickly. It takes awhile to make adjustments to the amount of gasoline that we use.

And there is another but. If the carbon tax adds 5 cents to a litre of gasoline is that going to change your driving habits? Sure, if the carbon tax adds $1 per litre, people will make changes but there would be such a political uproar that such a level of carbon tax would be suicide to the governing party.

Look what happened in France lately when the French President tried

to increase the cost of fuel. Civil unrest. There was a cute saying going around: President Macron is trying to save the end of the world while people are trying to save their budget to the end of the month.

And there is a third but.

Remember I said that the tax will be refunded back to individuals. Correct, but not to businesses.

When Premier Ford is saying that the carbon tax is a job destroying tax and will cause a recession, he is wildly exaggerating. But it will add costs to businesses and some businesses will suffer. Mind you, those same businesses will try to reduce their consumption of those same carbon producing products.

So there you have it.

A carbon tax, if high enough, will definitely work. It will cost some jobs and some people will not be completely compensated. We like to talk about saving the environment but are we willing to pay the price?

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

Death Notice

Michael Cliffen 12 Davis Drive, Smiths Falls, Ontario K7A 5G7

The old Bears Den

Elsner, Elfrieda Emma (Local Longtime Dairy Farm Owner) Passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital on February 4, 2019.

Elfrieda

Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre. "The Bears Den" 2010. Photo credit: Submitted

Kaleb, Cayden, Ryker and Jas. Predeceased by Amy’s mother Vivian.

Remembered by Cori-Jane’s mother Susan. She will be remembered and dearly missed by all of her friends. In lieu of a service A Celebration of Elfrieda’s Life will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2019 from 1pm - 4pm at the Almonte Civitan Hall. If so desired, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated.

Of Almonte, Ontario, in her 91st year.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of

Beloved wife to the late Alfons.

Cherished by her children Berndt (the late Cindy), Henry (Maureen “Mo”) and predeceased by Ralph and Crystal. Proud “Grandma” of Amy, Malissa (Greg), Derrick (Tina), Cori-Jane (Guy), and Jennifer (Kurt) also, “Oma” to her great-grandchildren Teagan,

C. R. GAMBLE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL Inc. (127 Church Street, Almonte, ON. (613)256-3313) Condolences & Tributes: www.crgamble.com

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February 2019

3

community Social media strife shines a light on need for media literacy for all Smiths Falls - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls and area citizens and community leaders are taking the psychotic out of social media and empowering themselves to find a balance by either liking it or leaving it.

Janet Sinclair and her partner, Silvya Reid, have recently returned to some social media platforms after a break saying the negativity surrounding Smiths Falls topics like downtown parking was triggering their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from their military careers.

“This doesn’t help,” Reid said of the anxiety she experienced from watching the negativity swirl around parking.

“It’s like reading the headlines and not the story,” Sinclair added of the comment threads.

The extent of negativity on these threads has also led Christin Storms of Smiths Falls to unfollow both local newspapers’ social media pages and her own friends posts in an effort to preserve her positive mindset. She has elected instead to manually log onto the papers’ websites to get up-to-date.

“It’s disappointing that it’s come to this,” Storms said.

Sherry Crummy, owner of Crummy Media Solutions, says it doesn’t have to come reach this point.

“You do have control over what you see,” Crummy said.

As a social media consultant to businesses, Crummy

has solid suggestions to everyone who wants to protect themselves from the negativity while remaining informed.

First, turn off notifications from groups. This will allow you to comment (if you absolutely have to) and not know how many have responded after you. Another tip is to turn off email notifications that fill up your inbox.

“This is something everybody should turn off,” Crummy said.

You can also turn off notification of the number of likes something you post gets, or unfollow a friend rather than unfriend them so their posts don’t show up in your newsfeed. Crummy encourages the social media vacations that Storms, Sinclair and Reid have undertaken as a way for people to realign their usage with why they started social media to begin with. She recommends social media monitoring apps like Anti-Social for Android and Off Time for iPhone as a way to see how much time you are spending scrolling through your newsfeed.

Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow knows he is a target on social media, but is committed to keeping his mayoral Facebook account active as a way of communicating with his community.

“I don’t let this stuff discourage me or get me down,” Mayor Pankow said.

While acknowledging the likelihood of negative feedback from his comments in this very article, the mayor emphasized that he tries not to focus on the negativity, but

on the objective feedback and suggestions given by many citizens through this portal.

The mayor knows first hand how demanding social media pages can be, as his wife, Tracey, operates the page ‘Smiths Falls Together We Can Make A Difference” which was briefly taken down toward the end of January due to the demands of monitoring such a page. By way of illustration, Mayor Pankow pointed out that during the time the page was archived and then brought back last month it had 1,000 notifications and over 100 complaints from comments. He, like all the individuals interviewed for this piece, expressed concern for the community’s children who are witnessing their parents act out in anger on social media. According to a Shaw Communications funded study released last Fall, many Canadian parents acknowledge that their poor technology habits serve as a bad role model for their kids.

“Parents need to be aware of their own tech habits and of the gap in digital and media literacy education for all ages,” says MediaSmarts’ Executive Director Kathryn Hill in an Oct. 22, 2018 press release. She later added “. . . parents can learn to build their skills together with their children as a family – we want parents to know they are not alone in this.”

MediaSmarts offers a variety of tools for all ages to improve their media literacy, which can be found on their website: www.mediasmarts.ca

Janet Sinclair (left) and partner Silvya Reid (right) became burned out with social media following the vigorous debate over downtown parking and took a calculated break from the platform.

Sinclair has since returned. Photo credit: Stacey Roy.

Rotary gives a $25,000 cheque to the Ottawa Heart Institute

Rideau St. Lawrence Kings Smiths Falls - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Members of the Bantam AA Rideau St. Lawrence Kings hosted Finland's Ilves team Jan. 4, 2019 finishing up with a 10-4 loss to their

Photos submitted.

guests. The team then traveled to Michigan Jan.24-27 for the International Silver Stick tournament where they won two of three games to earn a wildcard spot in the quarter finals. Here,

they lost to the London Jr Knights after a fierce battle.

Both experiences are sure to be coveted memories for all athletes who participated, including our four boys from Smiths Falls.

Rotarians Dennis Staples, Tom Foulkes, Ken Graham, and Roger Cooke presented Brenda Rothwell, vice-president of Leadership Giving with the Heart Institute Foundation in Ottawa, with a $25,000 cheque Friday morning. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca The Rotary Club of Smiths Falls presented a cheque for $25,000 to the Ottawa Heart Institute early Friday morning at their breakfast meeting at Settlers Ridge.

Brenda Rothwell and Elizabeth Rodgers from the Heart Institute were present to accept the cheque.

Rothwell told a breakfast group of a few more than 10 members that even as recently as WWII very little was done for cardiac cases; during that conflict a young physician began working on exposed hearts because of the horrific injuries and realized “something could be done.”

In 1986 the Heart Institute opened; Dr. Wilbert Keon was the first in Ottawa to do a heart transplant.

The Heart Institute is looking for $83M in its present campaign to fund the third phase for a new

tower; not well known is that every piece of equipment is donor funded and the Smiths Falls Rotary cheque of $25,000 will go towards “purchasing equipment for the new tower,” Rothwell said.

New features of the tower include five operating rooms — one hybrid and one shelled-in. $4M of equipment in the Hybrid OR is entirely donor funded. The hybrid space allows doctors to perform interventional and surgical procedures at the same time.

More than 145,000 sq. ft. of new space, nine catheterization/electrophysiology labs, and an additional surgical critical care unit with room for 27 beds are also planned.

Rodgers, Director of Philanthropy for the Heart Institute Foundation, described the surgical robotical equipment and assured early morning attendees that the “robots were not

doing the surgery,” but they do move “like the surgeons hands.” She also explained that if a heart attack is suspected, the patient is now taken directly to the Heart Institute and it could be as short as 20 minutes from the time of arrival to a heart operation. She said the Institute sees 220,000 cases a year.

From Smiths Falls and surrounding area, from January to December 2017, the Heart Institute saw 5,199 visits; there were 1,764 procedures, 477 major surgery procedures, 1,287 non-invasive procedures and 2,767 total diagnostic tests.

Smiths Falls resident, and Rotarian, Tom Foulkes described his procedure at the Institute as “seamless, painless and with no incision.”

Rodgers explained further that Foulkes had a bovine valve inserted. Pieces of a bovine heart are manually fashioned and sewn into place.

February 2019

4

Dining & Entertainment

Beer, Wine & Spirits

Winter blues but good wines to cheer The holidays are behind us and now we face the depths of winter. Is it just me or do you find that prices on everything are going up at quite a rate these days? Not only in the grocery stores, but I've seen wine prices ratcheting up from vintage to vintage in the last few years. I've even stopped buying a couple of my old favourites where I have found the price to taste/quality has been outstripped by other lesser known wines at lower prices that represent better value.

WHITES Castillo de la Mota Verdejo 2017 Rueda, Spain VINTAGES#: 633768 | 12.9%abv $12.95 This wine is good with seafood and comes from vines that are 25 to 40 years of age. Try this instead of Sauvignon Blanc for vibrant citrus and tropical notes on the nose and palate which cleanses your palate to enjoy the flavours of sweet scallops or buttered fried fish in every bite.

Hogue Chardonnay 2016 Chardonnay Blend, Washington, USA VINTAGES#: 402172 | 13.5%abv $14.95 It underwent malolactic fermentation giving it a medium-bodied creaminess as well as a buttery, nutty complexity with apple and tree fruit on the palate matching any roast pork or poultry dishes.

Well today I thought I would let you know about very good value wines locally available at LCBO (from $12.95 through $15.95) and end with a couple of superb wines, a California Zinfandel at $15.95 (on sale until 3 February) and an Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon at $19.95. Accompanying my tasting notes I have listed awards they won too.

Brian Preston The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com

Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Leyda Valley, Chile VINTAGES#: 32060 | 13.5%abv $14.95

Barco Negro 2015 Red Blend, Douro, Portugal VINTAGES#: 452797 | 13.5%abv $13.95

Susana Balbo Críos Malbec 2017 Malbec Blend, Mendoza, Argentina VINTAGES#: 162529 | 13.5%abv $15.95

Less herbaceous and more orchard tree fruit on the nose and taste. Medium bodied and fruity taste with a fresh finish. Montes always produces good wines at good prices. Score - 91. (James Suckling, jamessuckling.com, March 16, 2018)

I enjoyed the bouquet of ripe dark fruit, spice and the juicy ripe dark fruit taste with balancing acidity and tannins. This has enough body to accompany BBQ steak or ribs, as well as go with an antipasto plate. Superb value.

Always a good producer putting out great value wines like this one with ripe, dark plum and violet nose followed by a fresh and balanced tasty cherry palate with a lovely finish. Score - 93. (decanter. com, May 31, 2018)

Château Bellevue La Forêt 2016 Negrette Blend, SouthWest France VINTAGES#: 354134 | 14.5%abv $14.95

Michele Chiarlo Le Orme 16 Months Barbera d'Asti 2016 Piedmont, Italy VINTAGES#: 265413 | 13.5%abv $15.95

REDS Ken Forrester Petit Pinotage 2017 Stellenbosch, South Africa VINTAGES#: 631564 | 14.8%abv $12.95 This is a new producer and well made version of 100% Pinotage, for me at a very good price. Overall prices of Pinotage have been climbing as people discover this less expensive wine, and this one has the expected plum and dark cherry flavours that go with casseroles or BBQ fare. I BBQ all winter and this was great with my venison burgers and worth freezing on the deck by the lake!

Negrette is a grape largely grown in SW France and noted for moderate tannin on a perfumed and fruity palate with a note of earthiness to it. Best consumed young but this is a blend with some variety on the nose and a refreshing character. Score - 93. (International Wine Challenge, 2018) Domaine Autrand Côtes du Rhône 2016 - Grenache/Syrah, Rhone, France VINTAGES#: 380675 | 14%abv $14.95 An 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah blend from 40-45 year old vines. It has the expected Rhone dark fruit, spice, earth and herbal tones on a frame of balanced fruit acidity and tannins. Tastes great on its own or with ratatouille or coq au vin. Versatile enough for pizza and burgers too!

Why spend big bucks on bigger Italian reds? I have not had this one but it sounds good for a try, so the notes are from the LCBO website: Fragrant purple flower, baking spice and black-skinned berry aromas mingle with an earthy whiff of forest floor. On the succulent palate, supple tannins and fresh acidity balance juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice. It's easy drinking and savory. Drink through 2020. Ranked #58 in the 2018 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buys. Score - 90. (Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, Oct. 1, 2018) As I promised, here are a couple of reds that cost more and I definitely will get them because they are new listings which I often find shows a producer wants to get an LCBO order and they offer good pricing. The tasting notes are from the LCBO website. But as the theme of this article has stated, as soon as the wines become popular and sales go up, so do the prices!

Avalon Zinfandel 2016 California, USA VINTAGES#: 577247 | $17.95

Bleasdale Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 - South East Australia VINTAGES#: 661892 | 14.5%abv $19.95 Destemmed and crushed, open-fermented, 11-15 days on skins, matured for 12 months in French oak (15% new), gold medal National Wine Show '16. Vibrant colour; pure cassis fruit leads the way on the bouquet and medium-bodied palate, but when you look behind the stats and find harvest baumes from 13.2 to 14.1 and cap management in the fermenters you realise the nature and extent of Paul Hotker's magical touch.

Drink By: 2030. Score - 95. (James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au, Aug. 1, 2017)

vISIT US ON FACEBOoK OR www.cafewhim.ca

GASTROPUB 2 Russell Street East, Smiths Falls Axe & Arrow Gastropub

613-284-9899

Monday-Saturday 11am-11pm+ Late Night Libations $5 Draft Beer & Wine 9pm-close

20

OFF

%

Main course with the purchase of a beverage.

One per person.

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90% Zinfandel 10% Petite Sirah - Appearance: deep purple red bouquet, very attractive nose with aromas of ripe red fruits - Palate: full bodied wine, vibrant and smooth silky tannins; moderate acidity showing ripe blackberries, blueberries and raspberries (4 star Wine Advocate) Lisa Perrotti-Brown described California's 2016 vintage as delivering '... wines of great vibrancy and intensity, possessing lovely soft, ripe tannins and taut, muscular (but not skinny) fruit with compelling tension. What I love about the character of the 2016s is a kind of effortlessness about the wines ...' (robertparker.com, Oct. 31, 2017). This Zinfandel, sourced from prime sites across northern and central California, will perfectly encapsulate that character.

Expect a wine of great depth, balance and lift. Pair with grilled ribs.

7 Russell Street West, Smiths Falls cAFE wHIM

613-283-3008

Monday-Saturday Breakfast 9am-11am Lunch 11am-5pm

February 2019

5

Let's Eat

By Brian Turner

Boulton House;

Reinventing and reinvigorating an historic locale to create a new dining oasis

Photo credit:Facebook

If you check out the Facebook page of Carleton Place’s newest dining establishment, Boulton House (35 Mill St), you can be excused for thinking it came from humble roots when you look at the historic photo

of its exterior taken in the horse and buggy era. This structure on the Mississippi River, just next door to Carleton Place’s town hall, enjoyed commercial and industrial uses for most of its life, including a stint as a water-powered mill. It’s

appropriately named for its builder, Hugh Boulton.

While it has been re-envisioned under two separate owner groups who established it as a dining facility, they both pale in comparison to what greets you when you walk through

their artisan glass doors today.

Rod Scribner and his team have transformed what was once an overly dark décor into a warm and inviting space full of natural light with great views of the river and rapids. The interior is divided into two seating areas; one surrounding a libation bar, and one that’s a few steps higher into a dining room. There is also a patio between the building and the river’s edge for fair weather dining.

Unlike most restaurants that are open for two mealtimes (lunch and dinner), Boulton House doesn’t restrict its guests from ordering from either menu.

So if you want a sandwich plate in the evening, it’s yours for the asking. The menu has a decidedly Italian flair with a wide array of mouth-watering pasta dishes. My wife and I

visited on a recent Friday evening and I was impressed with décor choices that really improved the experience. For example, in the second level dining room, they chose highback padded chairs with oversized wings which kept conversations private while still allowing you to enjoy the piped music.

We started our meal with a house bruschetta served on a softer bread and topped with fresh tomatoes. It was warm, and delicious. Deb chose the shrimp tagliatelle and I opted for the steak frites.

Her generous serving came with a surprisingly large number of oversized shrimp on a bed of pasta cooked to perfection with a garlic alfredo sauce that added just the right amount of flavor. My beef was cooked to my requested medium rare and was tender and juicy. Our

house Merlot and Pinot Grigio (10 oz size) were well selected companions for our meals. We finished things off by splitting Boulton’s take on a tiramisu dessert and tested out their espresso with no disappointments.

Their wine list is extensive for a newly established facility and their brew selections include some of the best local craft liquids from Perth Brewery and Stalwarts. Our total for the evening came to $99 before tip and represented great value for the money.

Boulton House is wheelchair accessible as the lower level has full dining seating and it’s open from 11:30 am to 10 pm Monday through Friday and to 11 pm on the weekends. Reservations are recommended and you can reach them at 613-492-3535.

Smiths Falls’ burgeoning food scene is “On The Rise” Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Continued from page 1 • C’est Tout’s hours are Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 7 to 3; it’s closed Sunday. The number is 613-2840774.

Moving on, just a few hundred yards down Beckwith and turning left onto Chambers, at the corner in the V-shaped building, step in and meet Amanda McNeil, manager of Sweet Scoops (the ice-cream store) and The Pickled Pig. In the summertime (with acknowledgement to George Gershwin) when the livin’ is easy and the fish are jumpin’, the store offered 40 different flavours of ice cream, McNeil says.

That dropped to about 20 in the winter but there are still hard-core customers who want the cool delight even on the coldest of days.

Kids can handle a small $2 scoop while the be-

hind-the-counter team will offer a “seven-scoop” cone if that’s what the customer wants, McNeil says with a grin.

Moving away from the ice-cream counter, The Pickled Pig customers can enjoy a variety of artisan cheeses, deli meats, teas and chocolates. They can also order charcuterie platters, cheese boards, office lunches, or come in on-thefly and order a classic deli sandwich to-go for $8, or a weekly specialty sandwich.

McNeil lists available cheeses noting that most everything is from Ontario; customers can also choose cheeses from much closer to home i.e. Milkhouse Farm and Dairy on nearby Matheson Drive. Cheese varieties include: brie, asiago, romano, blue, marble, cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda.

Recently the Pickled Pig added local garlic, as well as farm fresh free run eggs and organic local yogurt for

sale.

McNeil, a Smiths Falls girl born and raised, is delighted with the change she sees in the Town. “I see the growth and busyness here; things are picking up.”

• Sweet Scoops and The Pickled Pig hours are Monday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. The number is 613-283-7707.

And if you haven’t tried Shawarma On the Falls yet, it’s time you sat down for a good shawarma spiced with ginger, garlic, cumin, onion, coriander, salt, and lemon juice. Owner Thomas Lavasani opened his business mid-September and is keeping his customers happy with a small Donair or Chicken Sandwich, both under $6, or a combo with two sandwiches and a coke, or a large, mixed family tray.

• Shawarma On the Falls takes Mastercard, Visa and Interac; they’re open Mon-

This sublime strawberry and cream mousse cake sits in a base of Victoria sponge and is topped with meringue. Just on of the decedant desserts available at Ces't Tout Bakery.

Photo credit: facebook.com/cesttoutbakery

day to Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., located at 16 Beckwith Street N, and you can reach them at 613-2835556.

And so you won’t have to leave town to eat out, re-visit the tried and true: • Chuckles Jack Family

Dining at 23 Russell St. E, 613-205, 1400.

• NOAL Pantry, 6 Russell St. E, 613-706-2188.

• Matty O’Shea’s Pub, 12 Chambers St., 613-2836363.

• Rob Roy’s Pub, 33 Centre Street, 613-283-9093.

• The Roosteraunt, 60 Lombard St., 613-2837151,.

• And good old Fort Hemlock at 32 Beckwith St. S, 613-283-2000.

Have we missed any?

Give us a call and let us know; we’ll come and visit.

February 2019

6

Garden Matters: Lanark County Master Gardeners Have you been lucky enough to drive down Wilson Street in Perth shortly after a snowfall?

If yes, you are likely wondering, “What are those beautiful trees with all the little red berries?”

These trees are a variety of flowering crab apple, known as Malus ‘Sutyzam’ Sugar Tyme.

Sugar Tyme - Crab apples in winter

They were planted as a part of Perth’s 200th Anniversary celebration in 2016, and this year they are absolutely spectacular. In the spring, they were loaded with pale pink buds which bloomed into white flowers and now they add beautiful winter interest with their showy fruit. Not only are they

beautiful year-round, they are great attractors for bees, birds and butterflies.

They perform best grown in medium moisture with well drained soil and once established have some drought tolerance. They will grow up to about 5 metres tall and about 4 metres wide. The

flowers are followed by masses of small glossy red crab apples. They are a wonderful addition to your landscape as a single specimen or in small groups.

We haven’t seen any winter birds enjoying these little apples yet but expect to one day soon be inundated with flocks of Grosbeaks or

Bohemian Wax Wings.

Dale Odorizzi is a member of the Lanark County Master Gardeners. Want to know more about the Master Gardeners group or ask a gardening question? Visit our website at www.lanarkmg.blogspot.com or contact us at lanarkmg@gmail.com

613-283-5556

lifestyle Entrepreneurial couple is keeping the art of boat building alive Regional - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Joan Barrett and Ted Moores of Bear Mountain Boat Company in Westport set off on their boat building adventure over 40 years ago, and have managed to fulfill their dreams and the dreams of many clients the world over.

From the beginning Barrett said their goal was to be self-sustaining and work from home, but it was never easy, especially because the couple are entirely self taught in their craft.

“We thought that we could just make things,” Barrett later added during a phone interview. “It would be very liberating and creative to carve our own way.”

Not being afraid of mistakes and having the perseverance to keep at it when the way was unclear is a critical ingredient to their success, and something they share with boat builders around the world.

“You keep going because you believe in it,” Barrett said.

The couple built and then sold Sundance Canoes in Gravenhurst in the mid 1970s. They

moved their current company from Peterborough to Westport in 2017 to be close to family and live in a village community.

Today, a significant part of Bear Mountain Boat Company’s clients are those who purchase a canoe, kayak or small boat kit, which come complete with instructions and materials needed to create your own vessel.

Steven Stewart of Switzerland wrote a testimonial on the company’s website about how his canoe kit brought himself and his brother closer, but also his wife and children who completed a second canoe kit with him.

“In the process of building a canoe we built a bridge between siblings, generations, friends, cultures and oceans,” Stewart wrote.

Receiving this kind of feedback is nourishment to these Westport business owners. During a video interview with Andrew Seeto, Moores said: “We measure our success in the thousands of Bear Mountain canoes and kayaks that emerge from home workshops around the world each year.”

Moores has found a way to reach even more makers through his how-

to books on the art of canoe and kayak building.

The manuals are entitled Canoecraft (1985) that comes with a DVD companion, and Kayakcraft (1995).

“What Ted loves best about boating is building boats,” Barrett said.

Last year the accomplished boat builder was commissioned to build a 15-person war canoe for the Carleton Place Canoe Club’s (CPCC) 125th anniversary.

“We love doing these

boats because it’s an important sport to Canadians,” Barrett said.

Pat Lester, head coach at CPCC said the lighter, well built war canoe was debuted last season and helped the team earn fifth place at the U-19 Mixed C-15 national event in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

“It did quite well,” Lester said.

The sports coach was able to see this boat in production thanks to the company’s close proximity to Carleton Place,

which was a first for Lester and a special memory for him.

“It’s such an art form.

You don’t get to see that with our other boats,” Lester said.

This spring, members of CPCC will travel once again to Westport to learn from Barrett and Moores how to maintain their fleet of boats. The weekend of Sept. 14-15 will be a special one for these Westport boat builders as they host their Makers Rendez-Vous in West-

port. This event is an opportunity for makers of all types to gather, and share stories and creations in a supportive environment.

“It’s a great way to get inspired with new ideas,” Barrett said.

The couple has no shortage of ideas. They are currently working on a prototype dragon boat trainer, which is still in the development stage.

For more information on the company log on to www.bearmountainboats. com.

Carleton Place Canoe Club’s war canoe team were extremely proud to compete in the CKC National Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec last year with their new boat built by Bear Mountain Boat Company in Westport. Pat Lester, team coach, said the lighter weight and overall design of the boat certainly helped the crew place fifth in Canada in the U19 Mixed C-15 event. Photo credit: Shannon McDonald.

Presents:

Stewart Park Festival announces 2019 Kick-Off to Summer Party

Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Are you ready to party? It’s never too early to think of summer.

Stewart Park Festival and the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA announce this year’s Kick-Off to Summer party – “Welcome to Margaritaville” Happening on Saturday June 22 at the Crystal Palace in Perth, “Welcome to Margaritaville” is a two-part event beginning with a tailgate party at 5:00 pm., complete with

Crystal Palace Perth, Ontario

games, giveaways and a Cheeseburger in Paradise contest.

Who makes Perth’s best cheeseburger?

You decide!

The dance to follow at 8:00 pm features Brian Neale & Northern Harbour, one of Canada's premiere party bands playing the best of Jimmy Buffett, The Eagles and the Beach Boys, One ticket covers both events with partygoers invited to dress in their most colourful attire. Prizes for the most original parrot-head hat.

Watch for special menu items in Perth’s downtown restaurants and fantastic sales in the town’s retail outlets that weekend as Perth’s downtown merchants welcome you to Margaritaville.

This event is presented in conjunction with the Northern Landshark Parrot Head Club.

Remember: "It's five o'clock somewhere."

If you thought last year’s Blues Brothers party was a blast, wait ‘til you see what’s coming.

Photo credit: Submitted

ABBA Revisited comes to the Gallipeau Centre on April 6 Smiths Falls - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca With unstoppable hits like Mama Mia, Waterloo, SOS, Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, Fernando, and many more, ABBA is one of the most popular groups in the world today. Their record-breaking hits continue to thrill music lovers of all ages.

Since their first triumph at Eurovision in 1974, ABBA has sold over 400 million copies of their albums. Furthermore, new renditions of popular ABBA songs now permeate modern

musicals and media, stimulating a new generation of ABBA fans.

In April of 2018, ABBA announced to the world their reunion after 35 years. They will be releasing two new songs in December of 2018.

The group’s avatars will now perform “I Still Have Faith in You” on NBC and BBC specials later this year; meanwhile, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again premieres in June, proving that their brand synergy is truly thriving!

ABBA Revisited is North America’s #1 tribute to ABBA and

its members have been dazzling audiences across the globe since the year 2001. ABBA REVISITED recreates the magic of ABBA with authentic costumes, spectacular harmonies and note-perfect musicianship taking their audience on a musical journey back in time.

From Vegas to Bermuda, Mexico to Dubai to Guatamala, ABBA Revisited recreates the showstopping look and sound that ABBA fans around the world can’t deny! This show is a MUST SEE for all ABBA fans!

Events around the region CARLETON PLACE Tuesdays Olde Time Bingo 7:00pm - 9:15pm Upper Hall - CP Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Carletonplacecivitan.com

Wednesdays Open Jam 9:00pm - 1:00am Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 facebook.com/TheWaterfrontGastropub/

February 10 Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

February 12 CP Bridge 1:00pm - 4:00pm Carleton Place Legion 177 George St tdimnik@yahoo.com 613-492-1099

February 13 CP & B Historical Society Dinner 6:00pm Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge St. 613-253-7013 Cpbheritagemuseum.com

February 23

February 16

Diamond Dinner Gala 6:00pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. auxiliary@cpdmh.ca 613-257-2200 x 323

Meet the Artists: Sue Adams, Adrienne Dagg, Caroline Ji 3:00pm - 6:00pm Sivarulrasa Gallery 34 Mill St. 613-256-8033 Sivarulrasa.com

February 24 Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

February 27 Fundraiser: Paint w/Janet 6:30pm Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St. 613-253-7013 Cpbheritagemuseum.com

February 28 Toastmasters 7:00pm - 8:30pm Riverview Seniors' Residence 204 Lake Ave. 613-250-9282

MISSISSIPPI MILLS Wednesdays Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-256-4747 Open Celtic Jam 7:30pm - 10:00pm Naismith Pub 411 Ottawa St. 613-831-6208

February 14

Thursdays

Toastmasters 7:00pm - 8:30pm Riverview Seniors' Residence 204 Lake Ave. 613-250-9282

Naismith Men's Shed 8:00am 1st & 3rd Thurs. each month at Mamma's 2nd & 4th Thurs at the Mill of Kintail's gatehouse boardroom almontecarver@gmail.com 613-461-0013 Menssheds.ca

February 17 Presentation: Love Tokens 1:00pm Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St. cpbmuseum@outlook.com 613-253-7013 Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

February 22 - 24, 28 Mar 3 The Lion King, Jr. Feb 22 & 28, Mar 1 at 7:00pm Feb 23-24, Mar 2-3 2:00pm Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge St. Ticketsplease.ca

February 22 T.G.I.F for Seniors 2:00pm - 5:00pm Carleton Place Legion 177 George St. 613-257-1727 Lanark Laughs 8:30pm - 10:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca

February 7 Travelogue: The Camino Santiago 7:00pm - 8:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-1037 Missmillslibrary.com

February 8, 9 & 10 Meet the Artist: Monique Renaud Feb 8 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm Feb 9 at 1:00pm - 4:00pm Feb 10 at 12:00 - 4:00pm Ctr for Creative Living St. Paul's Anglican Church 62 Clyde St.

February 9 Seedy Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St.

February 12 Music Trivia Night 8:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn 81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

February 18 Almonte Quilters' Guild 7:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. almontequiltersguild@ gmail.com

February 22 NLHS Heritage Dinner 6:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-257-8503 Northlanarkregionalmuseum.com Almonte Lectures: Women’s Health in Africa 7:30pm Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St. Almontelectures.net

February 23 Mid-Winter Milling 10:00am - 5:00pm Downtown Almonte Mill St. Downtownalmonte.ca Folkus: Greenbank w/ Moonfruits 8:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St 613-256-9090 Folkusalmonte.com

February 24 SRO Big Band Tea Dance 1:00pm - 4:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. john.haysom@gmail.com 613-563-7044 Srobigband.weebly.com Trad Song Pub Session 2:00pm - 4:00pm The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 Barleymow.com

February 25 Almonte Hort: Seed Starting Made Easy 7:30pm Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11 613-256-1071 gardenontario.org/site.php/ almonte

PERTH Wednesdays Karaoke 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

February 8 George Turcotte 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613 267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

Ted Lalonde 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

February 9 Jenna Wright 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

February 9 & 23 Community Dinner 4:30pm - 6:00pm St. James the Apostle Anglican Church 12 Harvey St. cnr Drummond stjamesperth@superaje.com 613-267-1163

February 10 Cross-Country Ski Races 10:00am Murphys Point Provincial Park 2243 Elm Grove Rd. 613-267-5060 Friendsofmurphyspoint.ca

February 12 Brock Zeman 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613 267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

February 13 Meditation & Associated Processes 1:30pm - 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. 613-225-4675

February 15 Stephen Mark Fisher 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613 267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com Jono Townsend 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

February 15-17, 21-24, 28-Mar 3

February 16 & 17

February 26

Giant Book Sale Feb 16 at 10:00am - 3:00pm Feb 17 at 12:00pm 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St.

Lanark County Quilters Guild 1:00pm - 3:00pm Lions Hall Perth Fairgrounds Lanarkcountyquiltersguild. com

February 17 Choral Evensong 3:45pm St. James the Apostle Anglican Church 12 Harvey St. cnr Drummond stjamesperth@superaje.com 613-267-1163 stjamesperth.ca

February 19 Brock Zeman 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613 267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

February 20 The Wife 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

February 21-24, Mar 1-3 Alone Together Again Feb 21 - 23, Mar 1 - 2 at 7:30pm Feb 24, Mar 3 at 2:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-485-6434 Ticketsplease.ca

February 22 Lanark LiPS Open Mic 6:30pm - 8:30pm YAK Youth Services 1 Sherbrooke St. E. facebook.com/ groups/51468539627/ Jono Townsend 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613 267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com EDJ 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

The Maltese Falcon Feb 15 - 16, 21 - 23, 28 Mar 2 at 8:00pm Feb 17, 24, Mar 3 at 2:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. 613-267-1884 Barndoorproductions.ca

February 23

February 16

Scrabble Fun-Raiser 1:30pm - 4:00pm Perth Legion 26 Beckwith St E. rcl244@ymail.com 613-267-4290

Logan Brown 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com Fire & Ice All Day Crystal Palace 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-1947

Nolan Hubbard 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

February 24

Listening Room Series: Kate Weekes 7:00pm Perth Restaurant 23 Gore St. W. 613-267-7902

Lanark Co. Camera Club Mtg 7:00pm - 9:00pm Algonquin College 7 Craig St Brock Zeman 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com

February 27 Meditation & Associated Processes 1:30pm - 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. 613-225-4675

SMITHS FALLS Mondays Smiths Falls Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

Tuesdays Smiths Falls Duplicate Bridge Club 1:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747

February 7 Patients 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

February 9 2 Person Mixed Dart Tournament 12:00pm 443 Rideau Wing, Abbott St. 613-294-0305 Valentine Dance 7:00pm - 11:00pm Hanley Hall 30 McGill St. N 613-283-6032 The Elton John Experience 8:00pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com

February 15 & 16 First Man 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

February 16 Home Alone Safety 9:00am - 3:00pm 613-498-4415 ccfirstaid@gmail.com

February 18 1st annual Benefit Hockey Game 12:00pm Smiths Falls Community Center

February 19 ONTRAC Job Fair 1:00pm - 4:00pm Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre www. getontrac.ca

February 21 The Wife 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational. blogspot.com

February 22-24, 28-Mar 3 Out of Order Feb 22 - 23, 28, Mar 1:00pm - 2:00pm at 7:30pm Feb 24 & Mar 3 at 2:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

February 23 Babysitter Training 9:00am - 4:00pm Upstairs SF Arena 71 Cornelia St 613-498-4415 ccfirstaid@gmail.com

February 15

February 27

LANARK

February 16

February 8

February 17

Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

February 17

WESTPORT & RIDEAU LAKES

BOTR: Dawn Tyler Watson & Ben Racine Band 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Fulton's Opening Day 8:00am - 3:00pm Fulton's Pancake House & Sugar Bush 399 Sugar Bush Rd info@fultons.ca 613-256-3867 Fultons.ca

The Valley Shantyman 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Shawn McCullough & Henry Norwood 4:00pm - 8:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Gratton Lanes, 39 Chamber St. 613-283-0570 lanark.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/event/bowl-kidssake/

February 9 John Wilberforce 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

February 13 Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

February 14

Two Rivers Market 10:00am - 2:00pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com 39th Annual Bowl for Kids Sake Fundraiser 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Sweetheart Dinner w/ Head Over Heels 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

REGIONAL BOLINGBROKE

Wednesday

February 20 Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 6:30pm - 9:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

February 22 Mardi Gras Jazz Night w/ Spencer Evans Band 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Line Dancing 3:00pm ABC Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 rhondaaisbitt@hotmail.ca 613-885-8543 abchall.ca

Thursdays Mah Jongg 1:00pm ABC Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 613-268-2548 abchall.ca Musicians Circle 7:00pm ABC Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 mattchurchill@hotmail.com 613-273-9005 Abchall.ca

February 23

Fridays

The Broken Hearts Songwriter Circle 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com info@coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Line Dancing 3:00pm ABC Hall 3166 County Rd. 36 rhondaaisbitt@hotmail.ca 613-885-8543 Abchall.ca

Snow Angel Making Party 1:00pm - 4:00pm Highlands Gate 4381 Wolf Grove Rd.

February 18 Lanark Community Dinner 4:00pm - 6:00pm Lanark & District Civitan Club 2144 Pine Grove Rd. 613-259-2435

PAKENHAM

February 8 Games Night 4:00pm - 9:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. Mountpakenham.com 613-624-5290

February 9 Bridges Blues Series 6:00pm - 10:00pm Bridges Bar & Grill 2496 County Rd. 29 613-624-5939

February 10 Après-Ski: Live Music 2:30pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd Mountpakenham.com 613-624-5290

February 15 Music Student Showcase 5:00pm - 7:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd Mountpakenham.com

February 17 Après-Ski: Yan-Nick 2:30pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd Mountpakenham.com 613-624-5290

February 20 Pakenham Hort: Backyard Birding/Native Plants 7:30pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 pakenhamhort@gmail.com 613-800-1236 gardenontario.org/site.php/ pakenham

February 22 Games Night 4:00pm - 9:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. Mountpakenham.com 613-624-5290

February 24 Après-Ski:Caitlyn & Sarah Dougherty 2:30pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd Mountpakenham.com 613-624-5290

l a u n n A 5th CHARITY OPEN CASH SPIEL Friday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019

OPEN SPIEL

24 Teams, 2 Games Guaranteed Hearty lunch Saturday & Sunday provided by

Draw Times

REGISTRATION FORM Skip’s Name: Phone Number: Home Club:

Prize Money: $2500.00 Total Cost: $200.00 per Team (Entry Deadline: Feb. 12, 2018)

Email:

Make cheques Payable to Smiths Falls Curling Club

c/o Ann McGahey, Box 84, 13 Old Slys Road, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 4S9

HAPPY

VALENTINE’S DAY Get everything you need to make that special day a little more memorable for your Valentine at Andress Independent.

February 2019

11

Health Matters

lifestyle

Dr. Robert Rodine

Mobility & Fitness - Sometimes we need to get well, before we can get fit

For too long, exercise has been viewed as an activity performed for vanity; to achieve a desired weight or physique. However, recently a societal shift has begun where we have started to view fitness as a way of maintaining optimal function. That is, our goal and desire is less about physique and more about action, activities, lifestyle and independence.

It is well known that as we age, we lose lean muscle mass, strength and balance. With this comes a reduction in physical activity and eventually a loss in range of motion. What is not well accepted, is that this process begins much earlier than our sixth decade. In fact, a phrase I commonly hear in practice is ‘if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken much better care of myself.’ I often follow this with the phrase, ‘the best time to plant a tree was yesterday; the second best time: today.’

The reality of our bodies is this: they are machines driven by mechanical and chemical processes that enjoy what they are used to. Our bodies adapt every day to what we expose them to. If we train our body to sit on a couch and consume, it becomes very efficient at it. Likewise, if we train our bodies to push, lift, stretch and accelerate, it becomes very

efficient at that.

This is the key to increasing our physical capacity; we just need to start. Start with where you are, and then progress. The progress doesn’t have to be fast, or drastic, it just needs to show forward momentum. If you can’t run, walk.

If dumbbells are too heavy, lift soup cans. If a 30 minute program is too long, start with 10 minutes.

Modify what you need to in order to meet your needs, and then increase the demands to keep it challenging, but keep it within tolerable limits.

However, a real key to this formula is direction and supervision. Following a DVD is not the same as working with an instructor who is monitoring and directing you. Your DVD doesn’t notice that you’re tired and performing in sloppy form. Your streaming program doesn’t notice that you’re straining your arthritic knees or putting your back at risk, whereas an instructor will.

It’s also important to recognize that sometimes we need to get well, before we can get fit. In order to allow our body to adapt to fitness, to safely accept physical stress and to strengthen healthy movement patterns, we need to correct our inherent biomechanical barriers and improve our mobility.

We might need to rehabilitate a new injury, or an

old one. We might even need to remove pain as a barrier to activity. This is where working with a professional such as a chiropractor, massage therapist or physiotherapist is valuable, as someone who is trained in musculoskeletal assessment will be able to help you work through your physical barriers and safely adapt to fitness as your body will allow. For example, I often work with patients who present with pain and are certain that it’s ‘just arthritis,’ ready to limit their future physical outlook, when in reality, the problem is more related to muscle imbalance and joint dysfunction, both problems which a chiropractor can solve and treat. Another example would be a person who states that they ‘have just never been flexible,’ who later progresses into regular yoga after dealing with their back pain.

Through these tactics, achieving higher levels of physical fitness is easier than we think, we just need to start with accepting change. From there, you can focus on action, activities, lifestyle and maintaining greater independence.

Dr. Robert Rodine is a chiropractor with Optimum Health: Chiropractic, Massage & Fitness in Smiths Falls and Cordick Chiropractic & Optimum Health Clinic in Perth.

Celebrating 20 years of Serving Our Community

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opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

Freedom of Speech

Political correctness is suffocating free speech.

I wonder if Seinfeld or The Office, two hilarious shows that poked fun at ethnicity, gender and sex would even be produced in this today’s politically correct climate. Censorship is a slippery slope.

There are alarm bells going off on higher education that the liberal arts progressives are shoving ideologies in student’s faces and silencing anyone who’s been raised with different values.

If you’re a thinker at all you’ll probably offend some people. I want my teenagers to get an education that allows them to jump into reasonable debates, not be told what to think. Students should be challenged not comforted. They should be

confronted, not coddled.

It’s how we grow. They are universities not daycares. Adversity builds character and resiliency.

We’ve been seeded by our ancestors with personal responsibility and it’s being blown away by helicopter parenting and now the universities are doing it as well.

I think men and women are different. Call me crazy but I believe science. I don’t support all the LBGT demands but I’m certainly not homophobic. I get to ask where Justin Trudeau is going to get the money to fund all the immigrants coming over without being called a racist. When did everything become so politicized? If you agree that women have a right to make decisions about their own bodies, does that automatically make you a Liberal?

I predict a low turnout at the polls this fall because moderate people like myself and most Canadians are bounced right (Conservative) on

certain issues and tossed over to the left (Liberal) on other beliefs. How do we pick?

Freedom of speech isn’t a weapon and what’s happening on university campuses is something we should all be concerned about.

Censorship and bending to this mob mentality prevent us from sitting around a table and talking to each other.

There’s a small percentage of radicalism and the rest of world shouldn’t be punished for it.

I will not be silenced at a hockey game because some parents feel it’s too much pressure for the kids to have the parents yelling in the stands.

How breakable are we?

Freedom of speech is every human being’s right and it should be protected.

Am I The Only One? The opinions expressed in the Am I the Only One column are those of Carrie Wynne and do not necessarily reflect those of Hometown News.

February 2019

12

lifestyle

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Debbie Boehm H.I.S.

The first cannabis themed golf course rolls into Lombard Glen

Joe Lopes, Jean and Dave Sherman and Gordon Weiske pose in the Smiths Falls chamber of commerce boardroom on January 24th. Photo credit: Emilie Must.

Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Rolling Greens is Lombard Glen Golf & Country Club’s new name as of April 1st— but it’s no April Fool’s joke.

Toronto-based business partners Gordon Weiske and Joe Lopes officially bought the golf course from Jean and Dave Sherman at the end of 2018.

Rolling Greens’ new owners have big plans for the golf course and

for attracting tourists to Smiths Falls in the coming year. The golf course will only be for those age 19 years and older, featuring a drivein movie theatre, miniputt and virtual reality games.

“Smiths Falls will become the new cannabis capital of Canada,” Weiske said. “We will have a friendly environment that sparks cannabis.”

Rolling Greens plans to be open year round

with both local and celebrity musical guests and have outdoor winter games. It will remain an 18-hole golf course, but with an expanded outdoor patio and an updated clubhouse.

“We’re not in the business of selling cannabis,” Weiske said.

However, cannabis use will be encouraged on the golf course.

“Intoxication is intoxication,” Weiske said. “We’re working very closely with Smart

Serve to promote designated driving.”

“There will be more entertainment in year one—locally and celebrity,” Weiske said.

A celebrity golf tournament featuring big prizes is already in the works for this summer.

“We’re visionaries looking way into the future,” Weiske said. “In the long term we want Rolling Greens to be a resort.”

Another big plan is to make Smiths Falls a

Charity bonspiel set for sweeping success Smiths Falls - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Organizers of the Homan/Hogan Charity Open Cash Spiel for Spinal Cord Injury are preparing for the 5th Annual curling event in support of spinal cord research.

The bonspiel is set for

the weekend of February 23-24 at the Smiths Falls Curling Club, 13 Old Slys Road, and will feature a mixture of both competitive and “friendly” teams.

Competitive matches between regular season curlers will begin at 9 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 23.

The bonspiel is named

in honour Mark Homan and Marshall Hogan. Event organizer Dan Andress decided to dedicate the charity bonspiel to Homan, an Ontario junior curling champion, and to his brother-in-law, Hogan, who was an active volunteer in the community prior to sustaining a spinal

cord injury several years ago.

Proceeds of the bonspiel will be donated to Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.

Sponsors include Andress’ Independent Grocer, 4 Degrees Brewing Company, and Hometown News.

Lunch will be provided by The Pickled Pig.

transportation hub for tourists. Weiske and Lopes are working with a part of Porter Airlines that will have direct flights from Toronto to Smiths Falls.

“We’re predicting daily flights here that will expand to Montreal and across Canada,” Weiske said. “Adding this element is big business.

We’re really promoting a weekend in Smiths Falls.”

Rolling Greens has no affiliation with Cano-

py Growth, but hopes the golf course will encourage other cannabis producers to come to Smiths Falls.

“We’re here to really connect with the community,” Weiske said. “A new energy will be put in place.”

Jean and Dave Sherman have owned the golf course since 1998 and in April of last year they put it up for sale, catching the attention of Wieske and Lopes in the summer.

“We were looking specifically for a golf course where alcohol and smoking is allowed.

We found Lombard Glen and came the next day,” Weiske said. “It was very serendipitous timing.”

However, the Sherman family will not be retiring. They are now employed by Rolling Greens to mentor them during the transition.

“We needed someone who had a bigger vision than we had,” Dave Sherman said.

Weiske and Lopes own another cannabis themed business called Cannabis & Coffee located in downtown Toronto that focuses on educating the public on the benefits of cannabis.

Weiske is also co-owner of Canwoods Entertainment Company in Toronto and has worked in the movie industry for 20 years.

February 2019

13

lifestyle

Help by sponsoring the second annual Parkinson’s Superspiel

Photo credit: facebook.com/cpcurling

Carleton Place - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Come on out for the 2nd annual Parkinson’s Superspiel at the Carleton Place Curling Club, March 9. Photo credit: Submitted.

The second annual Parkinson’s Superspiel is slated for Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the Carleton Place Curling Club. It’s a curling event to raise funds for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

We need your help. We’re looking for sponsors. Our sponsors will get: logo on event promotional materials; logo on information handed out to each team; mention on Facebook, Twitter, and website; logo on the banner displayed at the event; brochures/flyers displayed on brochure table; sponsor list read at the event; two free spaghetti suppers.

Sponsors will also receive one of the following labelled with their company name (except for the Gold sponsor, whose name will be listed as the main sponsor of the event): supershots, silent auc-

tion table, spaghetti supper, raffle table, mixed doubles, snack table.

Additional benefits of being the Gold sponsor include: company name mentioned as main sponsor of the event, logo displayed on the front page of the website, the only main sponsor of the event, two additional free spaghetti suppers (for a total of four).

Prices for sponsoring this superspiel are: $300 (for a sponsor), and $1,000 for the Gold sponsor.

For those who just want to come and play, please do.

Register a four-person team for $200 which includes two 8-end games, lunch and prizes. Or, register your mixed-doubles team for $40 which includes snacks and prizes. At the end of the day, join other curlers for a $5 spaghetti supper at 6 p.m.

Here’s the clincher — any leftover pies will be sold at

the end of the evening.

Parkinson’s is a debilitating disease. Currently, there are 100,000 people living with it in Canada, and this number is expected to double by 2030. There is no cure and there are no medications which slow its progression.

While people often associate tremors with Parkinson's, 30% of those diagnosed never have a tremor.

Learn all you can about the disease by asking us to come and speak to your group.

For more information about any of the above, please contact: pdsuperspiel@outlook. com .

And for even more information, go to the following: www.pdsuperspiel.ca, www. facebook.com/superspiel, www.twitter.com/pdsuperspiel, or Parkinson Canada website is https://www.parkinson.ca

County approves Vegetation Management Activities for 2019 Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Council has authorized staff to proceed with the activities outlined for 2019 as part of the county’s Vegetation Management Plan. This follows a comprehensive presentation

by Janet Tysick, business manager, at the public works committee of the whole meeting last week. Ms. Tysick provided an overview of reasons to control invasive roadside vegetation, including human safety, environmental benefits (protecting conservation areas, reducing damage to adjacent crops and establishing pollinator habits), as well as infrastructure preservation (maintaining sight lines, preventing road surface erosion and promoting proper drainage). She outlined the reduced prevalence of wild parsnip on road allowances between 2016 and 2018. “Successes have been measurable and significant,” she said. “While infestation levels have decreased, significant risks remain. Seeds can stay viable in the soil for up to four years, and not continuing with the control program

would allow wild parsnip to re-infest quickly.”

Control methods include boom and spot spraying, as well as hand removal. Since spraying began in 2015, the county has reduced the amount of herbicide used by 66 per cent. Ms. Tysick noted the Vegetation Management Plan also includes plans for controlling other invasive weeds, such as phragmites and Japanese knotweed, and it highlights site restoration (pollinator habitat) and public awareness/education. “We’re working to create diverse roadside vegetation and establish pollinator habitats,” Ms. Tysick said. “Targeted spraying leaves wildflowers intact and 520 native plants were planted in the road allowance in 2018.” The county is working to create “pollinator patches” by eplanting roadsides with native wildflowers and seeding following construction disturbance. “We have a trial to over-seed grass-dominated road allowances, and we are reseeding after hand removals of wild parsnip.” The county is part of a partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation

for a Monarch butterfly recovery project in eastern Ontario. With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, they are testing whether the creation of native meadows along roadsides and rights-ofway could successfully control wild parsnip, restore Monarch butterfly habitat and reduce management costs. In 2019, the county plans to increase hand removal of wild parsnip

in very light regions (110 km), boom spray 25 km and spot spray 350 km. The remaining 76 km of the road system are areas where the county hopes Adopt-a-Road program volunteers will continue their efforts and areas where spraying is not a consideration. A new Adopt-a-Bridge program will be introduced to help maintain wild parsnip around bridges and culverts.

Wild parsnip flower clipping is planned for late summer, with a fall spraying trial planned for 5 to 10 km. An information session for local municipalities on addressing municipal roads and private lands is planned. Ms. Tysick also outlined asset maintenance strategies, noting guide rails will not be sprayed this year. Councillors congratulated staff on the work done as

part of the Vegetation Management Plan, which has become a positive example for other municipalities.

“There is proof the plan is working,” said Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve). “We’ve done it, and it’s done right.”

For more information, contact Janet Tysick, Business Manager at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3110.

613-283-7707

Wild Parsnip Photo Credit: Submitted

1 Chambers St., Smiths Falls

February 2019

14

culture Perth Inside Out:

I remember that day so well. It was a cold February morning, as we climbed eagerly into the horse-drawn sleigh of our good neighbour Joe, who lived about half a mile to the east of our small farm.

Already aboard was his daughter Margaret, and a few other kids from along that stretch of dirt road, and we were soon on our way to the one-room school about half a mile away.

Our day started like most others at that little schoolhouse to the southwest of Perth, when we filed boisterously into the building, already warm from the coal-stoked furnace, at the sound of Mrs. K’s bell. The mood soon changed to sadness, when Mrs. K announced prior to the opening prayer and anthem that our beloved King George VI had died the previous day, on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1952.

The end came suddenly for Albert Frederick Arthur George Windsor, a heavy smoker who had also endured the stress of World War II, and his left lung had previously been removed after a malignant tumour was found.

We sang “God Save the King” that morning, and I couldn’t help but notice that little blue-eyed Margaret standing next to me had tears streaming down her cheeks. Even so, her beautiful voice held strong for the duration of that moving and last tribute to our wonderful King.

Forever after, our anthem became “God Save the Queen”, as the young Princess Elizabeth had been immediately proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II by the Canadian Government. She immediately returned to England by plane from Kenya with her royal consort the Duke of Edinburgh, where she had been on a Commonwealth tour. The coronation was not held until more than a year later, as the tradition was to allow an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies, be-

fore holding such celebrations.

The outpouring of grief in Canada can be attributed partly to the fact that many who served during World War II felt they had been fighting alongside the King, and they considered him a comrade-in-arms. Also, there was a new national sense of pride, as the year 1952 saw Vincent Massey appointed first Canada-born Governor-General. Our troops were again fighting abroad – this time in the Korean War. The 1939 Royal tour of Canada, which the King took with Queen Elizabeth, later to become the Queen Mother, was the beginning of a close relationship between the Royal Family and Canada, along with other members of the Commonwealth.

Queen Elizabeth II was to continue that relationship her loving father had established, and she carried it a step further when she talked about a new vision for the Commonwealth in her Christmas Day 1953 broadcast. She eventually became head of state to 16 member-states, known

Classic Theatre Festival seeking performers for training program

In this scene from last year’s walking play The Prisoner of Petawawa, Mallory Brumm plays a young Perth woman comforting her veteran husband (Connor Williamson) who experiences PTSD after World War II. Applications for this year’s summer theatre troupe with the Classic Theatre Festival are being accepted until Feb 10. Photo subitted.

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca The Classic Theatre Festival is accepting resumes from young people aged 15 to 29 to take part in this summer’s paid youth theatre training program.

While experience is not required, the Festival is looking for people with a strong interest both in performing and in working behind the scenes.

Successful applicants will

be featured (and will also stage manage) the Perth Through the Ages historic walking plays, a popular tourist attraction each summer that brings to life the stories and fabled characters of Perth’s past. Those familiar with this beloved annual ritual will recognize the costumed characters singing, dancing, and re-enacting Perth history on Gore Street, Foster Street, and in the unique alleyways of the downtown

core.

The 2019 walking play will focus on how residents of Perth came together to survive the economic austerity of the Great Depression during the 1930s.

In addition to performing street level all summer long, program participants will also appear in playwright Laurel Smith’s new adaptation of the hilarious Shaw comedy about the Roman Empire, Androcles and the Lion, the entertainment portion of this years Classic Dinner Theatre with Michael’s Table.

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural show, the dinner theatre is adding a lunchtime component too. Both will play on Tuesdays.

“It’s always wonderful to work with the very talented young people in this area who are looking for a career in the arts,” explains Smith, who notes that some graduates of the program have gone off to major in theatre at schools as diverse as Queen’s and York University. “And when you can get paid to do what you love, that’s a real bonus.”

Interested individuals should send a resume and letter of interest to info@ classictheatre.ca by February 10.

Terry O'Hearn

Death of a beloved King

Library and Archives Canada, PA-211006. Following the 1939 dedication of the National War Memorial, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth broke with tradition to mingle with the crowd.

as the Commonwealth realms.

The same day we mourned the King’s death at school, the Perth Courier published an edition with the front page headline: “World Mourns Loss of King George VI.” The story went on to say: “The King was beloved by all Canada as he was by all the Commonwealth. Even though in failing health he kept duty to the foremost, and was resolute in his decision to maintain duty over his own personal interests. Residents of Perth will recall that the King and Queen made a wonderful visit to Canada in 1939 and that they were followed by their daughter, Princess Elizabeth, now Queen, a few

months ago.” In October 1951, the Princess and the Duke had done a monthlong tour of Canada; the trip had been delayed for a week due to the King's illness.

A week later, on Thursday, Feb. 14, the local newspaper proclaimed: “A period of Two Minutes’ Silence will be officially observed by the Town of Perth at 11 a.m. on Friday (February 15) in memory of the late King George VI. This period was officially declared by Mayor Burns on Tuesday afternoon after he was approached by the executive of the Perth Chamber of Commerce and requested to do so.”

A related story in the same edition outlined the

33 Ferrara Dr., Smiths Falls

stance of the Perth Legion branch (Canadian Legion at the time), where the members felt the town should have been shut down completely for the official day of mourning.

And so, I can confirm the grief was real, in a way few can understand today.

King George VI was no doubt the first monarch to have a close association with the common people, and his daughter Queen Elizabeth II has continued and improved on that closeness to this day. As was said at the end of that Feb. 14, 1952, Perth proclamation in all caps: “THE KING IS DEAD; GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!” If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca

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February 2019

15

business Spotlight on business

Same store, new owner, some changes in the works

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Still a bit unsure, Heather Mitchell-Adams decided to ask anyway; her husband was behind her, her kids were getting older, she had great Opinicon experience under her belt. There was nothing to lose.

In August of last year she approached Dave and Sharon Brown, previous owners of Modern Thymes on Russell Street in Smiths Falls, with the question — if you ever considered selling, would you sell to me?

She held her breath, noticing they hadn’t said ‘no’ immediately, and was delighted when they said ‘yes’.

The store closed January 3 for inventory and re-opened under Mitchell-Adams’ ownership January 7. For many this seemed a quick turnaround but Mitchell-Adams admits, grinning, once she had the go-ahead, she wanted it to happen even faster.

At 40, this seemed a good time to begin to put her past experience and education into practice. In fact, she

says she’d been looking forward to this her whole life.

“I’ve always wanted a store, an outlet of my own.”

She remembers the year she married she worked with Pampered Chef — with food, with people, and some teaching, but it didn’t quite “tick all the boxes” for her.

In 2002 she received her certificate as a Chartered Herbalist from the Dominion Herbal College in British Columbia, and has participated in many nutrition workshops — learning the newest medical interventions, the diet crazes, as well as studying anatomy.

And all this time she was raising a family with her husband, Tom, working sometimes at Modern Thymes, cooking at a daycare, studying. A Job Fair in Smiths Falls led her to a position with the Opinicon at Chaffey’s Locks. This she loved — the chef, the work, everything about it; but it was also here she realized something had to give “Just buy it,” her husband said to her one night, meaning Modern Thymes. It was that, or leave her position

at the health food store and work more at the Opinicon.

So she asked the question.

If they said ‘yes’ she could use her herbalism certificate, her nutrition studies, her food experiences at the daycare and the Opinicon, her bookkeeping skills she picked up at Lawrence Allen in Smiths Falls, and working with her husband when he was pursuing his cabinetry and custom furniture making career.

And she would be at home. Mitchell-Adams is a Smiths Falls girl; she did leave twice, once heading to Calgary for a year and a second time to Toronto. But at her first pregnancy she realized she wanted her children to grow up in a small town with all the childhood experiences she had as a kid.

So they headed back here, and here they’ve stayed.

She’s watched Modern Thymes grow under the Browns' guiding hand and now that she’s taken over the ownership, her plan is not to change much but to enhance what’s there. Her ‘super power’ of thinking 17 steps ahead and “seeing

Heather Mitchell-Adams, new owner of Modern Thymes, has made a few small changes — all the bright candies are up top. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

things others might not notice” will stand her in good stead.

She hopes, by gleaning the suggestion box that greets customers as they come in the front door, to introduce Smiths Falls residents to new products, interesting workshops, and other bulk items. “We’ll take those [suggestions] most re-

quested and try them out.”

In six months, after the first assessment of her new business, she’ll decide if she needs to take on another employee, or even expand.

What she will expand now, though, are local cosmetics, health and beauty products, and begin to look at zero waste options. She’s also looking into fermented

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foods. Her first workshop was booked for January 24; other workshops will be available in the months to come. Make a suggestion for one.

Modern Thymes is located at 11 Russell St. E in Smiths Falls; the phone number is 613-283-3612. Or go to the website at http:// www.modernthymes.com

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February 2019

16

business

Saumure plans to open Holiday Inn Express on Ferrara Drive in 2020

Local company, Saumure Group of Companies, is once again fulfilling a need in town with a planned construction of approximately 80-unit hotel on Ferrara Drive. This billboard can be seen at the curb of the 2-acre property to be used for the hotel development. Photo credit: Stacey Roy.

Smiths Falls - Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca Chris Saumure, owner of Saumure Group of

Companies confirms a shortage of accommodation in town has moved his plans forward to open

a new 80-unit Holiday Inn Express on Ferrara Drive by fall 2020.

The new build is the

first of its kind in town since Saumure constructed the Best Western on Lombard Street in 1990.

“It’s time to refresh the town,” Saumure later elaborated on his reasons to undertake the project. “We just don’t have enough rooms. It’s as simple as that.”

A feasibility study undertaken by the Smiths Falls company confirmed that the town could use another 80-85 unit hotel following the successful first season of Le Boat and the opening of Tweed’s visitor centre last year. While still in the design phase of the project, Saumure did say the hotel will come equipped with a conference room for special events like weddings, and an indoor pool.

“We’re lacking a pool in town, and maybe this could fix that,” Saumure

said.

He said he is speaking with the town on the possibility of striking an agreement that would allow for public use of the pool during low guest periods such as the winter months.

Karl Grenke, planner with the Town of Smiths Falls, has not received any information on the hotel project as yet, but does anticipate it landing on his desk during the Site Plan Control process.

This process provides the town with an opportunity to work with the developer on traffic flows, exterior design and orientation.

Saumure said the building’s exterior will look very much like the hotel built in Oshawa, Ontario with its distinctive red framing accents, which are counter-balanced by the white and gray brick

walls. Currently, a hotel is an approved use for the 3.5 acre parcel of land adjacent to Ferrara Drive.

It was zoned Corridor Commercial Special Exception 4 in 2005. This is at odds with the town’s current community vision that designates this area as neighbourhood serving commercial.

“The zoning for the property pre-dates that,” Grenke said.

Saumure doesn’t expect his crews to be clearing the land until November of this year so that he can respect a non-competition clause between himself and the current owners of the Best Western. The developer is uncertain what he will do with the remaining 1.5 acres of land in that area, but said it would serve the hotel in some way such as a restaurant.

Rideau Candy Shoppe in Smiths Falls is relocating to Perth Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls’ candy-man is leaving town. Owner, Sheldon Giff is taking his store-made caramel and delicious fudge and heading down the road to Perth.

The Rideau Candy Shoppe will re-open in its new location at 73 Foster Street

on March 4, but until then it’s business as usual at the Smiths Falls location. Giff grins with excitement at this new venture; he’s been wanting to ‘grow’ his business since early 2018, and jumped at the opportunity when he saw it. With only a few minor fixes, he expects the changeover to be seam-

less. So if looking for an easily accessible sugar-fix within the next month (hint: Valentine’s Day), head to 20 Russell St.; otherwise it will be a 20 minute drive to Perth.

Watch for our feature on The Rideau Candy Shoppe in the March edition of Hometown News for a look at Giff ’s new location.

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